Shippersea Bay

Walked more of the East Durham Coastal Path today in lovely sunshine.  Saw what looked like an incident at sea when Guardian 1, the rib off the Inshore Fisheries Protection Vessel, Guardian lll (based at Whitby)  intercepted a small fishing boat off Shippersea Bay.  See extra.

North Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (NEIFCA) owns and operates three vessels to support the delivery of its statutory duties and responsibilities. These include a main vessel, North Eastern Guardian III and two rigid inflatable boats (RIBS), ‘Bravo 1’ a 6.4 m vessel carried by the main vessel during  routine fisheries patrol work and a 6.3 m vessel ‘Humber Protector’ which is stored in Bridlington and deployed to support land-based operations throughout the Authority’s area. All three vessels are coded to MCA workboat standard and fully equipped to work in a stand alone capacity.


We looked over the cliffs at the beach below and noticed some man made structures at the foot of the cliffs.  Turns out these are the remains of The West Hiker which ran aground there in the 1930s and never left the place. During World War 2, with scrap metal transformed into precious metal, the wreck was cut to pieces for arms manufacture, but one section, the stumpy frame of the engine room, remains there to this day.  See extra


The Durham Coastal Footpath is an 11 mile route which runs from north to south from Seaham to Crimdon Park, just outside Hartlepool. The path starts by Seaham harbour and heads south to Easington Colliery, passing Shippersea Bay and Hawthorn Dene Nature Reserve on the way. The reserve is run by the Durham Wildlife Trust. After the nature reserve the path continues south to Horden and then on to Peterlee. This area of the walk provides some of the best clifftop views to be enjoyed on the walk. 


Three miles to go to complete the full walk.  Today's steps, 21,219, 8.5 miles.  I'm knackered.